The exhibition of 2024 Mänttä Art Festival, entitled Puhallus (“The Blast”), revolved around themes of light, perspective, spaciousness and spatiality. A total of 36 artists and pairs of artists was invited to contribute to the festival. There will be nothing stiff or static about this summer’s festival”, promised curator Heli Ryhänen.

Featured Artists

• Timo Ahjotuli
• Antti Arkoma
• Sara  Bjarland
• Michal Czinege
• Michal Czinege  &  Maija  Laurinen
• Erika Erre
• Reetta Gröhn-Soininen
• Timo Hannunen
• Alma Heikkilä
• Johannes  Heikkilä
• Touko Hujanen
• Kaisa Huotari
• Anna Hyrkkänen
• Essi Immonen
• Inka-Maaria Jurvanen
• Riikka Keränen
• Ritva Kovalainen
• Juho Könkkölä
• Laura Lilja
• Hanna Marno
• Jussi Matilainen
• Anne Meskanen-Barman
• Haidi Motola
• Salla Myllylä & Laura  Vainikka
• Reima Nevalainen
• Petri Nuutinen
• Antti Oikarinen
• Katri Paunu
• Maria Pääkkönen  &  Ingeborg  Blom Andersskog
• Anni Rapinoja
• Anne Roininen
• Melissa Sammalvaara
• Nora Sederlöf
• Sanni Seppo
• Rosalia Silfer
• Maria Tani
• Hanna Vihriälä

Out of Nowhere was the title for the 2023 Mänttä Art Festival. The curators Minna Suoniemi and Petri Ala-Maunus invited many young artists. Most of the artists were showing in the Art Festival for the first time. In the exhibition, 36 artists or artist groups were invited, for a total of 44 participants. The exhibition’s name, Out of Nowhere alluded to an unexpected surprise. What will happen when the artists install their work in the space? Even the artists are not yet aware of what will happen when the audience encounters the artwork. What will happen between the exhibition and the audience?

Featured artits

• Emma Ainala
• Pasi Autio & Saku Koistinen
• Jesse Avdeikov
• Risto-Pekka Blom
• Jan Eerala & Laura Naukkarinen & Ulla Taipale + Chorus Sinensis -työryhmä
• Mariam Falaileh
• Seppo Fränti
• Terhi Heino
• Venla Helenius
• Jenni Hiltunen
• Piia Hiltunen
• Hinni Huttunen
• Hanna Hyy
• Hanna Kanto
• Veera Kulju
• Raakel Kuukka
• Antti Kytömäki
• J.P Köykkä & Peetu Liesinen & Kim Somervuori
• Linda ja Aura
• Ninni Luhtasaari
• Aleksi Martikainen
• Rusto Myllylahti
• Elina Nissinen & Max Hannus
• Anneli Nygren
• Ida Palojärvi
• Sari Palosaari
• Tuukka Peltonen
• Eeva Peura
• Iiri Poteri
• Raisa Raekallio & Misha del Val
• Sirkku Rosi
• Pavel Rotts
• Sasha Rotts
• Maria Stereo
• Kari Vehosalo
• Yeboyah

For the exhibition the curator Markus Kåhre chose 25 artists/groups of artists. Along side the names of well known visual artists there were also the names of some of the most interesting musicians, composers, poets, playwrights and performance artists. Combining multidisciplinary art and music in space fascinated Markus Kåhre, and so the solution was natural. The exhibition did not have any particular theme, because the curator hoped to allow each and every exhibition visitor the possibility of experiencing the artwork in their own way, and from the artwork, form their own personal story.

Featured artits

• Henna Aho
• Artemisia Vulgaris (Niina Braun, Mi Duncker, Anne Hiekkaranta, Mimosa Pale & Ilona Valkonen)
• Lauri Astala
• Antti Auvinen
• Elina Brotherus
• Radoslaw Gryta
• Emma Helle
• Emil Holmström
• Siiri Hänninen & Tara Valkonen
• Mikko Innanen
• Lasse Juuti
• Petri Kumela & Antti Lötjönen
• Eriikka Maalismaa
• Kalle Nio
• Nio Rautiainen Toikka (Leena Nio, Taneli Rautiainen & Jenni Toikka)
• Jussi Niva
• Eeva Park & Emma Harkaemper
• Post Theatre Collective (David Kozma, Saku Kämäräinen, Pietu Pietiäinen & Bita Razavi)
• Kati Raitinen & Christian Lindblad
• Vesa-Pekka Rannikko
• Pasi Rauhala & Lauri Wuolio
• Laura Ruohonen
• Päivi Takala
• Pauliina Turakka Purhonen
• Man Yau

The Mänttä Art Festival organisation elected Anna Ruth as the curator for the 2021 exhibition. Canadian-raised and currently settled in Jyväskylä, Ruth is a visual artist, award-winning art event organiser and versatile cultural activist.

Mänttä Art Festival 2021 presented 47 artists or artist groups. Individually, 62 artists participated in the exhibition as many work in pairs or as groups. The exhibition highlighted the diversity of contemporary art in artistic mediums, styles, perspectives, languages and nationalities. Out of the 62 artists, 55 was shown in Mänttä for the first time. Almost half of the artists came from multicultural backgrounds.

Featured artits

• Uzair Amjad
• Mari Antjärvi
• Emma Fält & Roberto Fusco
• Simon Gripenberg
• Robbert Groenendijk
• Markku Haanpä
• Mariam Haji
• Aaron Hiltunen
• Jaakko Himanen & Vesa Toukomaa
• Jan Ijäs
• Nayab Ikram
• Sara Ilveskorpi & Sanna Vainionpää
• Aino Kajaniemi
• Kemê
• Henni Kitti
• Anna Knappe & Amir Jan
• Timo Kokko
• Alpo Koivumäki
• Sami Lukkarinen & Roope Mokka
• Tarja Malinen
• Mechanics of Conformity (Rosamaría Bolom, Edwina Goldstone, Sepideh Rahaa & Arlene Tucker)
• Ali Akbar Mehta
• Heidi Naumanen
• Mayumi Niiranen-Hisatomi
• Egle Oddo
• off/balance & Anni Rissanen & Vappu Rossi
• Rosaliina Paavilainen
• Ari Pelkonen
• Tiitus Petäjäniemi
• Joonas Reijonen
• Pete Revonkorpi & Henri Lindström
• Jussi Rinta-Hoiska
• Landys Roimola
• Hanna Råst
• Nastja Säde Rönkkö
• Azar Saiyar
• Hodhayfa Salih
• Hans Peter Schütt
• Pia Sirén
• Christina Stadlbauer
• Jonna Suurhasko
• Suva
• {TES} (Tea Söderlund, Eetu Henttonen & Sami Luusalo)
• Timo Tuhkanen
• Tímea Varga
• Sirpa Varis
• Aishe Vejdani

2020 Mänttä Art Festival was postponed until the year 2021. The exhibition curator, the artists and the theme remained, to create the exhibition in 2021. – The exhibition organisers decided to make what seems to be the only logical choice at this time. The safety of our artists, staff and exhibition visitors, is our primary concern. Explained the festival’s director Tiina Nyrhinen.

The theme for the XXIV Mänttä Art Festival was The Human Era. With more than 50 artists, the exhibition discussed what happens when humans control the land and natural resources. The Mänttä Art Festival selected Marja Helander as the curator for the 2019 exhibition. Helander is a Sámi photographer, video artist and film-maker with roots both in Helsinki and Utsjoki.

Many of the artists selected for the XXIV Mänttä Art Festival were concerned with ecology and the state of the natural environment. Some of the artists are connected by Lapland and the Northern dimension. However, the exhibition was not strictly about the environment, and Pekilo was not turned into a Doomsday Temple. The artists studied the impact of humans on their environment in many ways: from the perspective of religion, politics, relationships or even animals. After all, we humans are just another species among the others.

Featured artits

• Riikka Ahlfors
• Matti Aikio
• Jasmin Anoschkin
• Ann-Sofie Claesson
• Maria Duncker
• Anna Estarriola
• Katriina Haikala
• Sanna Haimila
• Roope Itälinna
• Renata Jakowleff
• J.A. Juvani
• Minna Kangasmaa
• Sakari Kannosto
• Aimo Katajamäki
• Kaija Kiuru
• Kaisu Koivisto
• Arto Korhonen
• Tuomas Korkalo
• Sari Koski-Vähälä
• Sauli Miettunen
• Juhana Moisander
• Moratorio-toimisto
• Arttu Nieminen
• Anna Niskanen
• Mari Oikarinen
• Anu Osva
• Harri Pälviranta
• Paavo Paunu
• Emma Peura
• Outi Pieski
• Tamara Piilola
• Heli Hiltunen & Jorma Puranen
• Selja Raudas
• Mammu & Pasi Rauhala
• Pasi Rauhala
• Johanna Rojola
• Johanna Rotko
• Elina Ruohonen
• Panu Rytkönen
• Aleksander Salvesen
• Iiu Susiraja
• Nestori Syrjälä
• Art Collective Kunst
• Berit Talpsepp-Jaanisoo
• Samppa Törmälehto
• Jaakko Tornberg
• Aiko Tsukahara
• Jussi TwoSeven
• Hanna Vihriälä
• Camilla Vuorenmaa

The theme for the summer of 2018 was Roadmap. Curator Veikko Halmetoja selected for the exhibition a total of 56 artists who lead the visitors to a winding road towards mapping the world. Roadmap served as a heading for portraying the need for people to understand and control the reality surrounding them. Roadmap also depicted issues of boundaries and power.

Halmetoja noted that we have increasingly less space free of any ownership to enjoy ourselves in. Ownership is power, and that power is often used to restrict people's presence and movements. Nowadays, common spaces are also often guarded. Halmetoja promised to turn the ground floor of Pekilo into a loiterer's paradise.

The exhibition also reflected on mapping inner worlds, different world views and superpower politics. Although some of the artworks presented a critical view of difficult issues, this wasn't meant to disallow laughter.

Featured Artists

• Riikka Ahlfors
• Jouko Alapartanen
• Stefan Bremer
• EGS
• Erno Enkenberg
• Noora Geagea
• Paul Gustafsson
• Mari Hallapuro
• Kalle Hamm
• Ilari Hautamäki
• Sami Havia
• Outi Heiskanen
• Rannveig Helgadóttir
• Janette Holmström
• Einari Hyvönen
• Henrik Härkönen
• Markus Jäntti
• Emmi Kallio
• Dzamil Kamanger
• Joel Karppanen
• Hanna Keynäs
• Anni Kinnunen
• Tiina Kivinen
• Tellervo & Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen
• Emilia Kokko
• Teemu Korpela
• Aura Kotkavirta
• Janne Laine
• Antti Laitinen
• Aleksi Liimatainen
• Hannamari Matikainen
• Arttu Merimaa
• Kasper Muttonen
• Moosa Myllykangas
• Antti Nyyssölä
• Melina Paakkonen
• Mikko Paakkonen
• Pekka Paikkari
• Sami Parkkinen
• Anna Pekkala
• Kirsi Pitkänen
• Jan Pohribný
• Riitta Ranta
• Ville Räty
• Jukka Silokunnas
• Kim Somervuori
• Pasi Soukkala
• Kaj Stenvall
• Saara Särmä
• Taidevankkuri Linnuntie
• Sari Tervaniemi
• Kirsimaria E. Törönen-Ripatti
• Ilona Valkonen
• Jarno Vesala
• Timo Vuorikoski
• Pekka Väyrynen
• Timo Wright

The 2017 exhibition was themed Summer. Surrounded by a cold and rainy summer, the exhibition laid out the whole spectrum of the summer season, in all its gloriousness and gruesomeness. Curated by Pirjetta Brander, 37 artists and two artist groups participated in the exhibition. –Everyone has their own hopes and expectations for summer, and they always hark back to the same childhood fantasy, Brander stated.

The summer activities manifest as an absurd operation. It is a flurry of frantic undertakings with lake house trips and parties. There are lots of things to accomplish and get done in only a few weekends. Then, once the bad weather ruins your plans, you book a last-minute flight deal to a beach vacation. This exhibition acts as a parallel reality to all this activity, the curator explained.

Brander invited to the exhibition people of various ages working on various fields and fringes of art from all over Finland. As a visual artist herself, she found it interesting to interview colleagues and to hear about their ways of thinking and creating art. Most of the artworks had been especially created for the Mänttä and the exhibition theme in mind.

Featured Artists

• Erika Adamsson
• Jan-Erik Andersson & Shawn Decker (USA)
• Markku Arantila
• Riikka Aresalo
• Kenneth Bamberg
• Tyko Elo
• Tom Engblom
• Leonora Fredriksson
• Viva Granlund
• Bo Haglund
• Ihana Havo
• Mika Helin
• Otso Höglund
• Petra Innanen
• Inka-Maaria Jurvanen
• Jussi Juurinen
• Eija Keskinen
• Yasushi Koyama
• Marko Lampisuo
• Harri Larjosto
• Leevi Lehtinen
• Emilia Niskasaari
• Olga Palomäki
• Sergei Pietilä
• Marja Pirilä
• Heidi Romo
• Airi Salosmaa
• Charles Sandison
• Risto Suomi
• Pekka Syrjälä
• Ella Tahkolahti
• Barbara Tieaho
• Jenni Tieaho
• Kalle Turakka Purhonen
• Pauliina Turakka Purhonen
• Timo Tähkänen
• Jussi Valtakari & Antti Ylönen
• Senja Vellonen
• Kati Åberg

For the 2016 Mänttä Art Festival, 30 artists and one artist group were selected. Curated by visual artist Anssi Kasitonni, the exhibition was titled Going Commando. – I thought about a term that would describe well the attitude I have with creating art and curating, Kasitonni explained.

– When 'going commando,' a person is emancipated, bold and uninhibited. I thought it would be great if the artists were to do the same. When putting the exhibition together, Kasitonni thought about all the great artworks and artists he had seen. – As the exhibition doesn't have a unifying theme, my selection criterion was simple: High-quality art.

From the main venue of Pekilo, the Art Festival also spread out to the townscape of Mänttä. An imaginary pub/record store was established in a vacant business space in the centre. Kasitonni's aim was to lower the threshold between 'high' and 'low' culture. He hoped that his exhibition would attract new audiences to enjoy contemporary art. – In addition to the regular art crowd, I hope to lure in people who enjoy things like rallycross. Kasitonni's year is also remembered for the participation of Hollywood-star Lucy Liu in the exhibition.

Featured Artists

• Liisa Ahlfors
• Annika DahlstenHannaleena Heiska
• Kalevi Helvetti
• Riikka Hyvönen
• Tommi Hämäläinen
• Pekka & Teija Isorättyä
• Laura Könönen
• Lucy Liu (USA)
• Kristen Liu-Wong (USA)
• Aino Louhi
• Kalle Mustonen
• Tommi Musturi
• Pasi ”Sleeping” Myllymäki
• Emilia Mäkelä
• Jyrki Nissinen
• Konsta Ojala
• Kaija Papu
• Saara Piispa
• Ville Pirinen
• Risto Puurunen
• Tiina Raitanen & Emma Rönnholm & Salla Vapaavuori
• Simo Riikonen
• Anja Salonen (USA)
• Mika Taanila
• Petteri Tikkanen
• Anna Tuori
• Marko Turunen
• Timo Vaittinen
• Ilkka Vekka
• Vilunki 3000

The 2015 curators for Mänttä Art Festival were visual artists Kalle Hamm and Dzamil Kamanger. For this already established festival of Finnish contemporary art, they chose to invite a representative sample of international contemporary artists working in Finland. A total of 43 artists or artist groups presented their work in the exhibition. The exhibition was titled: uusi nykyisyys | new present.

– The Finnish art scene has grown significantly more international over the past decade. We hope to open the eyes of the Finnish audience to the diversity and plurality of voices among us, the curators explained.

National borders seem artificial nowadays. In fine arts, cultural mobility has long been commonplace. Cultural transitions occur whenever people meet, especially when crossing borders.

– The 'new present' means that nowadays, history is written simultaneously as it happens. Media is fast-paced and multivoiced. This is also reflected in contemporary art; art oscillates, simultaneously referring to multiple places and temporalities. At the same time, it comments on and reproduces the present, highlighting concurrent changes, the curators mused.

Featured Artists

• Panos Balomenos
• Sylvia Grace Borda (CAN)
• Sezgin Boynik & Minna L. Henriksson
• Diego Bruno
• Pira Cousin
• William Dennisuk
• Edwina Goldstone
• Ana Gutieszca
• Minna Haukka & Paulina Egle Pukyte (LI)
• Sasha Huber & Petri Saarikko
• Jon Irigoyen
• Jakob Johannsen
• Tellervo Kalleinen & Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen
• Shinji Kanki
• Hilda Kozári
• Karolina Kucia
• Ray Langenbach & David A. R. Ross
• Nea Lindgrén
• Meri Linna
• Harrie Liveart
• Christelle Mas
• Ahsan Masood (PK)
• Mime
• Mark Mitchell
• David Muoz
• NÆS
• Nana & Felix
• Tero Nauha
• Egle Oddo
• Ore.e Jalostamot (Hevoslinja)
• Jyri Pitkänen
• Sepideh Rahaa
• Minna Rainio & Mark Roberts
• Bita Razavi
• Yvapurü Samaniego (yhteistyössä Frank Schoepgensin kanssa)
• Jaanus Samma (EST) (yhteistyössä Alo Paistikin kanssa)
• Carolina Sandell
• Dwi Setianto
• Suohpanterror
• Martta Tuomaala
• Sándor Vály
• Adolfo Vera

”… Be wise, and mix the wine, since time is short: limit that far-reaching hope. The envious moment is flying now, now, while we’re speaking: Seize the day, place in the hours that come as little faith as you can.”

In 2014, the theme of Mänttä Art Festival was Carpe Diem. In his ode, the poet Horace reminds us that we can't predict our deaths. Carpe diem! means 'seize the day'. One must live in the now. The curator, cultural journalist Minna Joenniemi, used this classic poem from Ancient Rome as stimulus for her conversations with the artists.

Depending on emphasis, Carpe Diem means taking notice, waiting, or being meaningfully present in the moment. The exhibition depicted the desire and need for seizing the moment. According to Joenniemi, visual artists are experts in this field: Observers, capturers and creators of the moment.

– The fear of death is present in art, driving us into short-sighted actions, but art also holds a suggested solution in sharing the moment and the fear. Carpe Diem is an exhibition that seizes the moment critically, yet appreciating the joy of living, Joenniemi explained.

Featured Artists

• Maija Albrecht
• Jan Anderzén
• Kenneth Bamberg
• Dave Berg
• Enoch Bergsten
• Brains on Art
• Ilmari Gryta
• Siiri Haarla
• Mia Hamari
• Alma Heikkilä
• Jussi Heikkilä
• Heidi Hemmilä
• Tatu Hiltunen
• Ylva Holländer
• Pekka Jylhä
• Kahviland (Leena Kela, Turku & Kristina Junttila)
• Kaarina Kaikkonen
• Matti KalkamoSaara-Maria Kariranta
• Jouna Karsi
• Otto Karvonen
• Johanna Ketola
• Saija Kivikangas
• Tapani Kokko (Veistäjät)
• Essi Korva
• Maanantai Kollektiivi
• Maija Kurki
• Teemu Lehmusruusu
• Ninni Luhtasaari
• Maija Luutonen
• Juha Menna (Veistäjät)
• Jussi Meuronen
• Hanneriina Moisseinen
• Teemu Mäki
• Pia Männikkö
• Pekka Nevalainen
• Pekka Niittyvirta
• Leena Nio
• Noora Nio-Juss
• Meiju Niskala
• Pekka Niskanen
• Konsta Ojala
• Pelastusalus Silakka
• Kukka Paavilainen
• Meri Peura
• Outi Pieski
• Kaija Poijula
• Eeva-Maija Priha
• Anssi Pulkkinen
• Vesa-Pekka Rannikko
• Tuomo Rainio
• Antti-Ville Reinikainen
• Anna Rokka (Di Twins)
• Vappu Rossi
• Aura Saarikoski
• Jenna Sutela
• Sami Sänpäkkilä
• Sirpa Särkijärvi
• Kari Södö
• Antti Tanttu
• Sakari Tervo
• Oona Tikkaoja
• Elina Tuhkanen
• Lasse Ursin
• Henry Wuorila-Stenberg
• Jenni Yppärilä
• Rut Karin Zettergren (Di Twins)

In 2013, Mänttä Art Festival turned 20 years old. Visual artist Jyrki Siukonen built a City of Dreams inside Pekilo. The project was realized by a total of 50 artists from all over Finland. The dense urban structure envisioned by the curator was both a man-made physical space and a conceptual space structured by certain rules.

Siukonen wanted to toy with the idea of the artworks being installed in the form of a miniature city inside Pekilo, previously an industrial space. The exhibition encompassed several themes which came together to form an urban milieu. The artworks depicted city and nature, humans and animals, war and death, different spaces and structures – and sleep.

The exhibition included photography, videos, sculptures, paintings, graphic art, drawings and installation.

Featured Artists

• Adel Abidin
• Sara Ahde
• Anna Alapuro
• Adrian & Jan-Erik Andersson
• Vera Arjoma
• Frank Brümmel
• Tom Engblom
• Erno Enkenberg
• Radoslaw Gryta
• Petri Hytönen
• Elina Juopperi
• Kari Juutilainen
• Jan Kaila
• Markku Keränen
• Riikka Keränen
• Jonna Kina
• Anni Kinnunen
• Markku Laakso
• Kalle Lampela
• Marko Lampisuo
• Renja Leino
• Johanna Lemettinen
• Marjo Levlin
• Aleksi Linnamaa
• Esa Meltaus
• Laura Miettinen
• Tuuli Mukka
• Kalle Mustonen
• Heini Nieminen
• Sandra Nyberg
• Kimmo Ojaniemi
• Mikael Pohjola
• Tiina Pyykkinen
• Minna Pöllänen
• Taneli Rautiainen
• Tomas Regan
• Kati Ruohomäki
• Heli Ryhänen
• Panu Rytkönen
• Antti Rönkä
• Paula Salmela
• Teemu Saukkonen
• Terhi Silenius
• Heimo Suntio
• Paula Tella
• Raimo Törhönen
• Sándor Vály
• Adolfo Vera
• Johanna Väisänen

In the summer of 2012, the Mänttä Art Festival presented sensual and surprising approaches and meticulous work processes. Visual artist Ilona Valkonen invited a total of 34 artists and artist groups to Mänttä.

What the selected artists had in common was their integrity in terms of approach and meticulousness in materials, sensory intelligence. Valkonen wanted to bring together a group of artists with different ways of outlining the world, which she had found inspiring or stirring. Mänttä Art Festival served as a laboratory for perceptions, methods and utopias: How are we, how have we been and how could we be in this world and time?

The exhibition was titled Finders, Keepers. It challenged the viewers to sharpen their senses, even when it came to their own consciousness. It was rather a theme for viewers than a common element of the artworks.

Featured Artists

• Suzanna Asp
• Anders Bergman
• Maija Blåfieldi
• Linda Granfors & Aura Hakuri
• Emma Helle
• Marjatta Holma
• Jussi Juurinen
• JOKAklubi: Niina Lehtonen Braun, Mirka Raito
• Tellervo Kalleineni
• Sanna Kannisto
• Kerijät (Liisa Haverila ja Eeva Riikonen)
• Olli Keränen
• Niina Lehtonen Braun
• Luuorkesteri
• Heikki Marila
• Heini Matveinen
• Irmeli Mäkilä, Pornainen
• Janne Nabb & Maria Teeri
• Antti Oikarinen
• Mimosa Pale
• Jaakko Pallasvuo
• Eeva Peura
• Kati Rapia
• Jenni Rope
• Jukka Rusanen
• Hanna Saarikoski
• Seval Sener
• Tuomas Siitonen
• Pia Sirén
• Tatu Tuominen
• Heli Vehkaperä
• Guido van der Werve
• Laura Wesamaa
• Annu Wilenius
• Denise Ziegler

For 2011, art critic Otso Kantokorpi chose a theme from the Bible: Honour thy father and thy mother. He wanted to build an exhibition with a point of contact with every one of us: Everyone has a relationship of some kind with their parents. As the preparations for the exhibition unfolded, it became evident that there was a surprisingly wide spectrum of relationships between parents and children.

Parents were approached through kindness and pain, longing and anger or respect and disappointment. Honesty was a characteristic feature in the art brought to Pekilo.

Invited by Otso Kantokorpi, the exhibition presented an especially large amount of art made specifically for this exhibition. The most prominent techniques were installation and sculpture, but family relationships were likewise reflected through media art, painting, photography and printmaking. The manifold contents of the theme were reflected in the diversity of techniques.

Bringing their own flavour to the exhibition were eight Estonian artists who Kantokorpi had invited in honour of Tallinn's year as the European Capital of Culture. The Estonian expertise of the curator guaranteed the contributions of a high-quality group of artists.

Featured Artists

• Tatjana Bergelt
• Pirjetta Brander
• Chrisse Candolin
• Forest Camp
• Radoslaw Gryta
• Maija Helasvuo
• Pia Hentunen
• Ilomiehet
• Martti Jämsä
• Sandra Jõgeva
• Päivikki Kallio
• Pasi Eerik Karjula
• Sanna Karlsson-Sutisna
• Jussi Koitela
• Anne Koskinen
• Raakel Kuukka
• Ipi Kärki
• Laura Könönen
• Leonhard Lapin
• Tuula Lehtinen
• Jouko Lempinen
• Juha Menna
• Tapani Mikkonen
• Jarmo Mäkilä
• Kristina Norman
• Kilian Ochs
• Jüri Ojaver
• Paavo Paunu
• Matti Peltokangas
• Sari Poijärvi
• Silja Puranen
• Elina Ruohonen
• Seppo Salminen
• Sampsa Sarparanta
• Anneli Sipiläinen
• Heimo Suntio
• Maarit Suomi-Väänänen
• Sirpa Särkijärvi
• Mai Sööt
• Tommi Toija
• Iikka Tolonen
• Jaan Toomik
• Martta Tuomaala
• Anu Tuominen
• Juhani Tuominen
• Tellervo Viitaniemi
• Jukka Vikberg
• Sampsa Virkajärvi
• Ilkka Väätti

The curator for 2010, Annu Vertanen, titled her exhibition Terrible Joy. The title was comparable to many of the artworks in the exhibition: Things and experiences always have at least two sides. The selected artists reflected on both personal and global issues.

The exhibition was a meeting of traditional art forms and popular culture, landscapes and humans, humour and seriousness, and line and large surface. Concreteness also met the conceptual. Paper in its different forms was a central element. The exhibition presented a lot of graphic art, and paper didn't only serve as the canvas for the art, but also as material for the technique. Media art and photography as well as sculptures were also featured.

Featured Artists

• Maija Albrecht
• Tuula Anttonen
• Bargain-ryhmä
• Laura Beloff
• Erika Erre
• Tommi Grönlund & Petteri Nisunen
• Eeva-Mari Haikala
• Kaisaleena Halinen
• Valtteri Halmetoja
• Maija Helasvuo
• Sirpa Hynninen & Vesa-Ville Saarinen
• IC-98-ryhmä (Visa Suonpää & Patrik Söderlund)
• Johanna Ilvessalo
• Joseph James
• Anita Jensen
• Päivikki Kallio
• Hanna Kanto
• Anssi Kasitonni
• Shoji Kato
• Shoji Kato & Eungyung Kim
• Sirkku Ketola
• Sami Klemola
• Taina Kokkonen
• Arto Korhonen
• Kimmo Kumela
• Katri Kuparinen
• Heli Kurunsaari
• Markus Lampinen
• Emma Lappalainen
• Nina Lassila
• Tuuli Luukas
• Jyrki Markkanen
• Melek Mazici
• Arto Nurro
• Anneli Nygren
• Pauli Parkkinen
• Ville Pirinen
• Merja Puustinen & Andy Best
• Vappu Rossi
• Riitta Rönkkö
• Sami Sänpäkkilä
• Anne Tamminen
• Eeva Tiisala
• Anne Tompuri
• Katja Tukiainen
• Kristiina Uusitalo
• Jan Kenneth Weckman
• Hanna Westerberg
• www.saasanoa.com

In the summer of 2009, Mänttä Art Festival presented 43 artists / artist groups. Museum Director Emerita, Tuula Karjalainen, invited artists whose techniques and approached comprised a good representation of the spectrum of contemporary art. Photography and video went side by side with painting and 3D art, and the exhibition also included performance art. Pekilo and its outdoor surroundings served as the central exhibition sites.

Karjalainen chose Ecology of Emotions as the theme for 2009. Its deliberate imprecision left everyone room to make their own interpretations. According to Tuula Karjalainen, contemporary artists widely comment on the state of the world, especially ecological issues, financial inequality and greed. She saw that injustice, wars and the slow suicide of Earth were present in the creating processes of the artworks, but by the same token, the joy of living and of the diversity of all existence were likewise present.

Featured Artists

• Adel Abidin
• Heini Aho & Sebastian Ziegler
• Jasmin Anoschkin
• Elina Brotheru
• Saara Ekström
• Paavo Halonen
• Marjatta Hanhijoki
• Terhi Heino
• Outi Heiskanen
• Emma Helle & Ilona Valkonen
• Hikiset tissit (Ihana Havo & Tapani Kokko)
• Heli Hiltunen
• Tatu Hiltunen
• Hyäryllistä
• Päivi Häkkinen
• Ulla Jokisalo
• Ismo Kajander
• Lea ja Pekka Kantonen
• Inari Krohn
• Heta Kuchka
• Mauri Kuitula
• Janne Laine
• Antti Laitinen
• Riikka Lenkkeri & Valtteri Halmetoja
• Kiba Lumberg
• Bjarne Lönnroos
• Kirsi Mikkola
• Mika Natri
• Antti Oikarinen
• Pilvi Ojala
• Tarja Pitkänen-Walter
• Tuomo Rainio
• Nina Rantala
• Anni Rapinoja
• Jani Ruscica
• Janne Räisänen
• Elsa Salonen
• Kari Soinio
• Minna Suoniemi
• Marjatta Tapiola
• Heidi Tikka
• Tommi Toija
• Anu Tuominen

Is humanity innate, or maybe a skill to be learned and consciously maintained? This was the question raised by the exhibition curated by Veli Granö, a prominent photographer, filmmaker and advocate of Finnish outsider art. The theme for the exhibition was The Art of Humanity.

The exhibition offered plenty of food for thought, also raising discussion. The layout at Pekilo displayed a sense of drama and narration. Apart from the outdoor spaces and the church, Pekilo was now the only exhibition venue, and the curator staged it very meticulously. Much more wall space was built for the exhibition, structuring the venue in a whole new way compared to previous years.

The selected artists were a diverse bunch: Older artists with more merits, young artists with fresh diplomas and interesting outsider artists made up a multidimensional group whose art also made the audience ponder the concept of humanity.

Featured Artists

• Airaksinen, Jouni
• Alho, Anne
• Arvela, Hanna
• Bohm, Katja
• Ekebom, Terhi
• Eskelinen, Petri
• Gråhn, Krister
• Hallikainen, Lauri
• Hamm, Kalle & Dzamil Kamanger
• Heikkilä, Jussi
• Heikkinen, Jyrki
• Heiska, Hannaleena
• Horila, Kerttu
• Hyrkkänen, Anna
• Immonen, Antti
• Jaanisoo, Villu
• Janduin, Jonna
• Johansson, Aino
• Jämsä, Aarne
• Järvinen, Pauliina
• Kannisto, Aino
• Karjalainen, Hannu
• Ketola, Johann
• Kirves, Outi
• Kivi, Jussi
• Koivisto, Kaisu
• Koponen, Tanja
• Korhonen, Mauri
• Kujansuu, Jouni
• Kujasalo, Matti
• Laakso, Anni
• Lampela, Kalle
• Lenkkeri, Ville
• Leppälä, Anni
• Lindblad, Christian
• Lonka, Johanna
• Mäki-Jussila, Juha
• Mäkipää, Tea
• Manninen, Satu
• Merenmies, Elina
• Merimaa, Arttu
• Musturi, Tommi
• Myymälä2
• Mäkelä, Marika
• Niittyvirta, Pekka
• Nurro, Arto
• Nuutinen, Christer
• Ojala, Antti
• Päiväläinen, Riitta
• Pajulahti, Olavi
• Pälviranta, Harri
• Raito, Mirka
• Paunu, Paavo
• Ranta, Vesa
• Rapi, Aapo
• Ratalahti, Antti
• Saarto, Ari
• Salokannel Marianna
• Sarastamo, Markku
• Silomäki, Jari
• Siukonen, Jyrki
• Suorajärvi, Satu-Minna
• Takalo-Eskola, Ilkka Juhani
• Tuori, Anna
• Törmälehto, Samppa
• Uotila, Atte
• Vennola, Sari
• Vesala, Jarno
• Viita, Milja
• Virkajärvi, Samps
• Väisänen, Arto
• Wuorila-Stenberg, Henry

Visual artist Jani Leinonen issued a challenge to the art world and the audience by announcing that he would be presenting in Mänttä the 25 best artists in Finland. This heading immediately raised a lively debate on the status and valuation of art. In the art field, Leinonen works in the manner of a merchant or an advertiser, while criticizing and questioning its values.

This approach was also evident in the Mänttä Art Festival exhibition. A group of young and enthusiastic artists were presented, unafraid to use commercial and popular culture elements in their art. Idolization and criticism, humour and seriousness, truth and fakery were frolicking with each other. The Finns were also in dialogue with foreigners, as the exhibition included German, American and Russian – some already deceased – artists.

Art was also beginning to show its virtual legs. The lively discussion at the event's web site, on the streets and in cafés was part of the contents of Leinonen's exhibition. Despite its bold and loud exterior, the exhibition also included more peaceful nooks.

Featured Artists

• Afrika
• Ala-Maunus, Petri
• Blåfield, Maija
• Fursei, Daria
• Geller, Jiri
• Haaslahti, Hanna
• Hultcrantz, Frida
• Ijäs, Mikko
• Kannosto, Sakari
• Karila, Eemil
• Kippenberger
• Krogius, Viktor
• Lankinen, Katriina &Relander, Mari
• Mäkilä, Rauha
• Nissinen, Erkka
• Novikov, Timur
• Rosenström, Hans
• Sakkinen, Riiko
• Salmenkivi, Maiju
• Simonsson, Kim
• Slow
• Suominen, Eliisa
• Valkonen, Ilona
• Väätänen, Tarja
• Warhol, Andy

Helena Sederholm, Professor in Art Education in Helsinki's University of Art and Design, served as the curator for 2006. She invited 30 artists or artist groups to the exhibition, titled Intimacy. Sederholm wanted to shake up and question people's perceptions of intimacy. The concept of intimacy manifested through such things as contrasts: large artworks portraying small, private issues, or the scale of the space vs. the artwork created intimate tensions. Pekilo's overall installation received a lot of positive feedback.

The spectators' experiences also played an important role in the realization of the theme. The audience had to ponder their own relationship with intimacy when viewing or listening to the artworks.

Featured Artists

• Alitalo, Simo
• Berg, Hans-Christian
• Duncker, Maria
• Haapoja, Terike
• Haikala, Eeva-Mari
• Hamm, Kalle & Kamanger, Dzamil
• Heikkilä, Hanna-Riikka
• Heino, Timo
• IC-98
• Immonen, Antti
• Kaikkonen, Kaarina
• Kantonen, Lea & Pekka
• Karvonen, Otto & Gaál, Miklos
• Keränen, Olli
• Kolu, Marja
• Kuoppala, Karri & Siitonen, Tuomas
• Kuukka, Raakel
• Lehtinen, Jukka & Suomi, Marko
• Marttila, Olli
• Mäkilä, Rauha
• Nyyssönen, Miika
• Oja, Marjatta
• Paavilainen, Kaisu & Siirtola, Anne
• Pesonen, Pauliina
• Rustanius, Jaakko
• Sares, Ilona
• Soininen, Erkki
• Tuori, Santeri
• Uusitalo, Kristiina
• Vesanen-Laukkanen, Virpi
  

Year 2005 saw the 10th edition of Mänttä Art Festival. A total of 45 artists contributed to the exhibition. The curator for the anniversary show was Rovaniemi-based artist and Professor of the Faculty of Art and Design in the University of Lapland, Juhani Tuominen.

Tuominen wanted to introduce deliberate coincidences and juxtapositions between various spatial and temporal concepts. In public discussion and media, the foremost juxtaposition was seen between the Northern and Southern approach. The curator didn't set out to create a Northern-themed exhibition, but as he and many of the artists came from Northern Finland, the theme organically surfaced.

Featured Artists

• Aiha, Martti
• Anttila, Lauri
• Contemporary Santa Claus Artist Association
• Court, John
• Engblom, Tom
• Hakuri, Markku
• Harri, Marjaterttu
• Helander, Marja
• Heikinaho, Minna
• Heikkilä, Jaakko
• Heikkilä, Jussi
• Heikkilä, Markku
• Holma, Antti
• Huhta, Jari
• Hukkanen, Reijo
• Hulkko, Irmeli
• Jacobs, Michael Marnin
• Jokela, Timo
• Junttila, Helena
• Karila, Eemil
• Karjalainen, Juho
• Karjula, Pasi
• Keränen, Markku
• Kiuru, Kaija
• Kivijärvi, Ilona
• Lampela, Kalle
• Lehtinen, Jukka
• Marila, Heikki
• Mazici, Melek
• Miettunen, Sauli
• Määttänen, Lotta
• Niemelä, Jaakko
• Niva, Jussi
• Osipow, Paul
• Rankka, Lauri
• Saitajoki, Juha
• Siukonen, Jyrki
• Suomi, Marko
• Tuominen, Sinikka
• Tuomivaara, Teuvo
• Valtakari, Jussi & Saarinen, Vesa-Ville
• Vesterinen, Pekka
• Väätti, Ilkka
• Yrjölä, Petri
• Öfverström, Seppo

Gallery owner Kari Kenetti didn't want to designate a theme or a title for the exhibition, choosing to trust his knowledge of the art field instead. He invited a total of 28 artists to the 2004 Art Festival, curating an interesting collection of artworks for Pekilo and Honkahovi. Two-dimensional art received the biggest role in the exhibition, and hence the art of painting got to prove its strength, albeit at times in very surprising forms.

The exhibition included a lot of well-established artists, and many of the reflective artworks manifested their impressive erudition in arts. The exhibition curated by Kenetti interestingly highlighted the historical strata in the visual arts, with contemporary interpretations of landscapes, portraits and still lifes.

Featured Artists

• Ant-Wuorinen Anna-Kaisa
• Arminen Tuija
• Cavén Kari
• Ekström Saara
• HaukelandNiels
• Hiltunen Heli
• JämsäMartti
• KeitiläAntti
• Kekarainen Pertti
• Korkeila Jukka
• Kumpulainen Hannele
• Leinonen Jani
• LounilaLiisa
• Lukkarinen Sami
• Makkonen Petri
• Nieminen Inka
• Närhinen Maija
• Puronen Riikka
• Rekula Heli
• Retulainen Anna
• Räisänen Janne
• Salosmaa Aarno
• Sandison Charles
• Uutinen Marianna
• Wallensköld Viggo
• Ziegler Denise

In 2003, sculptor Kimmo Schroderus brought to Mänttä the largest sculpture exhibition ever seen in the area. His decision to select only sculpture art to the Art Festival was proven successful. The versatile and high-ceilinged spaces in Pekilo gave the artworks latitude, as their plasticity and shapes could be viewed from several directions. The exhibition was elegantly complemented in Honkahovi and its surrounding park. The event provided an all-round impression of the current state of sculpture, and it was received enthusiastically by the audience, media and the Finnish art scene alike.

The exhibition included 49 sculptors, with their crafts, skills and passion for treating materials as their common denominator.

Featured Artists

• Alho Alli
• Astala Lauri
• CopperMarkus
• Duncker Maria
• Geller Jiri
• Gryta Radoslaw
• Havo Ihana
• Helenius Simo
• HeleväRiitta
• Hukkanen Reijo
• Häkkinen Päivi
• Iivonen Kaija-Riitta
• Immonen Antti
• Junno Tapio
• Juvonen Jari
• JämsäAarne
• Karjula Pasi
• Kasitonni Anssi
• KauhanenPekka
• Kaulanen Kirsi
• Kivimäki Osmo
• Koivisto Kaisu
• Kokko Tapani
• KorhonenMarjukka
• KåhreMarkus
• Laukkanen Irma
• Lehtinen Jukka
• MennaJuha
• Meskanen Anne
• Mölsä Eeva-Liisa
• Natri Mika
• NiemeläJaakko
• Nuutinen Veikko
• Ollikainen Mia
• Pohjolainen Pauno
• Pyykkö Kimmo
• Rannikko Vesa-Pekka
• Rustholkarhu Seija
• RyhänenHeli
• Saari Sofia
• Salo Olli
• Sederholm Joakim
• SipiläinenAnneli
• Tapper Nora
• Tikkaoja Oona
• Toija Tommi
• Valo Jaakko
• Vikberg Jukka
• Äkkijyrkkä Miina

For the 2002 exhibition, sculptor Kaisu Koivisto invited 48 artists who reflected in their art the relationship between humans and environment and that of natural and urban environments. This year marked the debut of Pekilo as an exhibition venue. Despite its unfinished state, the building inspired enthusiasm among artists and viewers alike.

The exhibition presented personal experiences of our surrounding reality and its changes, emphasising the fact that nature remains an important issue for Finnish artists, whether they may live in the city or in the country. Ethical issues were also raised: the rights of human beings in relation to their environment were scrutinized.

Featured Artists

• Ahola, Teija-Tuulia
• Ahtila, Eija-Liisa
• Baibulat, Niran
• Eerala, Jan
• Engblom, Tom
• Granö, Veli
• Lähteenmäki, Anna Hall & Veli-Matti
• Halso, Ilkka
• Hazrati, Sharzad
• Heikinaho, Minna
• Heikkilä, Jussi
• Heino, Timo
• Helasvuo, Maija
• Hippeläinen, Tuovi
• Hytönen, Petri
• Ikonen, Leena
• Isoherranen, Vuokko
• Jaanisoo, Villu
• Junttila, Helena
• Kaarna, Marika
• Kaverma, Petri
• Ketara, Tiina
• Koskinen, Anne
• Kovalainen, Ritva & Seppo, Sanni
• Kurunsaari, Heli
• Lenkkeri, Ville
• Lindman, Pia
• Mann, Pasi
• Merimaa, Olli-Pekka
• Männikkö, Esko
• Nurmikko, Reima
• Nuutinen, Petri
• Pirilä, Marja
• Päivinen, Sirpa
• Retulainen, Anna
• Sandison, Charles
• Siiskonen, Vaula
• Soinio, Kari
• Tervaniemi, Sari
• Tieaho, Jenni
• Toukomaa, Vesa
• Ziegler, Denise

In 2001, visual artist Marja Kolu curated an exhibition that could be imagined to be in the possession of a fictitious contemporary art collector. The idea was to compile an showcase of today´s art as versatile as possible. The viewers were indeed offered a rich and high-quality exhibition, where the curator's aim was particularly to highlight the state of printmaking and photography today. Printmaking was represented by large-scale, even impetuous series, capturing their viewers from the rugged walls of the spirits factory. A total of 75 artists participated in the exhibition.

Featured Artists

• Airaksinen Jouni
• Alapuro Anna
• Alho Anne
• Haavisto Kyllikki
• Hamm Kalle
• Hietanen Reino
• HoffrénHeli
• Holma Maija
• Holma Antti
• Hukkataival Helinä
• Hynninen Sirpa
• Hämäläinen Mirka Helena
• Jaskanen Toivo
• Jokisalo Ulla
• Jääskeläinen Soile
• Jääskeläinen Anssi
• KaikkonenKaarina
• Kaiponen Marko
• Kajander Ismo
• Kalkamo Matti
• Kallinen Jarmo
• Kangas Johannes
• Kapanen Martti
• KarhuMika
• Karjula Pasi (OLO)
• Karpow+ryhmä Marko
• Karsten Harald
• Kivinen Markku
• Koch Ari
• KåhreMarkus
• Lampi Marra
• Lampisuo Marko
• Lenkkeri Riikka
• Loukkola Satu
• Markkanen Jyrki
• Meklin Pentti
• Mäkelä Jukka
• Mäkeläinen Veikko
• Nieminen Inka
• Nyyssönen Miika
• Osva Anu
• Pieski Outi
• PippingCaroline
• Pitkänen Merja
• Rapinoja Anni
• Renvall Seppo ja Markus
• Riikonen Hannu
• Ringbom Veronica
• Rinne Mia
• Rouhiainen Marianne
• Ryhänen Heli
• Rönkkö Jaakko
• RönkköRiitta
• Salminen Seppo
• Schroderus Kimmo
• Sederholm Joakim
• Snellman Rune
• Tukiainen Katja
• Uusitalo Riitta
• Valtonen Mikko
• Wargh Carl
• Vertanen Annu
• Virta Ulla
• Virtanen Ritva-Liisa
• Vuokola Marko (OLO)

Teemu Mäki is known as an artist with an uncompromising stance. Mäki only invited 27 artists to the exhibition, each of whom had plenty of space for their artworks. The image of man was outlined in all its unscrupulousness. The highlighted themes included violence, the essence of being human, morals and sexuality.

Teemu Mäki's personality also raised some discussion in Mänttä. Newspapers dredged up works he had made over a decade ago, and even the word ‘boycott´ was mentioned. The curator defended his policies by explaining that art is not about ingratiating the audience, but rather a serious part of life where different forms of existence are openly and frankly discussed. The exhibition was heavy on painting, and it was seen as a coherent and consistent whole.

Featured Artists

• Ahjotuli, Unto
• AV-arkki: a selection of Finnish video art
• Björkenheim, Raoul
• Brander, Pirjetta
• Ekström, Saara
• Ervamaa, Paula
• Heikkerö, Markus
• Jatkola, Minna
• Kaila, Jan
• Kantonen, Lea & Pekka
• Kiirikoff (formerly Korhonen), Marikka
• Korhonen, Ninna
• Korkeila, Jukka
• Larjosto, Harri
• Merenmies, Elina
• Mäki, Teemu
• Niemi-Junkola, Fanni
• Pentti, Liisa
• Reinhard, Aurora
• Savikangas, Max
• Turakka, Pauliina
• Turtiainen, Samuli
• Wardi, Rafael
• Wuorila-Stenberg, Henry

In 1999, sculptor Antero Toikka wanted to tackle the upcoming millennium, building his exhibition around the concept of Time. Artworks from 80 artists were selected. An old spirits factory next to a sulphite pulping mill, closed down in 1991, was introduced as a new exhibition space. Protected by the Finnish Heritage Agency, the industrial building nicely emphasized the chosen theme, and its roughness served as an interesting contrast to the polished Honkahovi building. After 1999, the exhibition started to be held annually.

Time was also reflected in the list of artists selected by Toikka, including artists who had started their careers in the course of five decades, the first in the 1950s. One focus of the exhibition was environmental art, so the Art Festival was also visible in the townscape of Mänttä.

Featured Artists

• Aalto, Johanna
• Aalto, Timo
• Airikkala, Elina
• Andersson, Jan-Erik
• Arnkil, Harald
• Baumgartner, Stig
• Björkenheim, Päivi
• Castrén, Hannu
• Dennisuk, William
• Furman, Beryl
• Hakola, Marikki
• Hamm, Kalle
• Harmia, Heini
• Haukeland, Niels
• Hautala, Jorma
• Heikinaho, Minna
• Heikkerö, Markus
• Hirvelä, Markku
• Humaloja, Timo
• Juvonen, Jari
• Jääskeläinen, Soile
• Kallinen, Jarmo
• Kanervo, Marja
• Kannosto, Erkki
• Karjula, Pasi
• Kaverma, Petri
• Kekki, Marjatta
• Kiivaskoski, Johanna
• Kivi, Jussi
• Korhonen, Marjukka
• Laine, Lauri
• Lanu, Olavi
• Laukkanen, Irma
• Lehtinen, Jukka
• Lipasti, Valtteri
• Liulia, Marita
• Maasalo, Antti
• Manner, Pekka
• Merikanto, Ukri
• Mäki, Teemu
• Mäki-Jussila, Juha
• Myller, Veikko
• Nordström, Lars-Gunnar
• Nurminen, Matti
• Ormio, Kaarina
• Pakarinen, Kimi
• Pallasmaa, Juhani
• Peltokangas, Matti
• Pernu, Jaakko
• Pirtola, Erkki
• Pitkänen, Tarja
• Prauda, Nanne
• Puhakka-Myller, Irja
• Pyykkö, Kimmo
• Rantanen, Mari
• Reinikainen, Raimo
• Rönkkö, Jaakko
• Saali, Tuomo
• Sipiläinen, Anneli
• Sirén, Hannu
• Siukonen, Jyrki
• Somma, Ossi
• Sundell, Kirsi
• Suntio, Heimo
• Suoniemi, Simo
• Susi, Nanna
• Syrjälä, Pekka
• Sääski, Juha
• Takalo-Eskola, Ilkka Juhani
• Tapiola, Marjatta
• Tapper, Nora
• Tompuri, Anne
• Tuominen, Jukka
• Uusitalo, Kristiina
• Valtakari, Jussi
• Vellonen, Jarmo
• Vikberg, Jukka
• Virolainen, Heikki W.
• Voijola, Jari-Jussi
• Vuokola, Marko

The curator for 1997, artist and art critic Hannu Castrén from Jyväskylä, toured extensively around Finland and used his art field expertise when selecting the artists. The exhibition included artworks from 95 artists.

After the great exhibition of 1995, Castrén's efforts were met with a lot of expectations. The exhibition proved to be an expertly compiled whole, a fine demonstration of the high level of Finnish contemporary art.

Featured Artists

• Aarras, Anna-Maija
• Alapuro, Anna
• Blomqvist, Tuomo
• Copper, Markus
• Engblom, Tom
• Erkkilä, Jaana
• Haarla, Teuri
• Haavisto, Kyllikki
• Hannunen, Timo
• Happonen, Matti
• Heikkilä, Jussi
• Heikkilä, Jaakko
• Hietaharju, Mikko
• Hietalahti, Tapani
• Hirvelä, Markku
• Hukkataival, Helinä
• Hyvärinen, Aimo
• Immonen, Teija
• Isoniemi, Elisa
• Jakkila, Eeva-Kaisa
• Junttila, Helena
• Juutilainen, Kari
• Jylhä, Pekka
• Jämsä, Aarne
• Järvinen, Jukka
• Pekka Kainulainen
• Kapa
• Karsten, Harald
• Kauhanen, Pekka
• Kautto, Jaana
• Kinnunen, Eila
• Kiuru, Kaija
• Kivinen, Markku
• Koivisto, Kaisu
• Kopperi, Anna-Lea
• Koskinen, Veikko
• Kåhre, Markus
• Laakso, Markku
• Laamanen, Markku
• Laitinen, Ulla
• Lehtinen, Jukka
• Leinonen, Virpi
• Leppänen, Harri
• Lievonen, Sari
• Markkanen, Outi
• Matinlauri, Aaro
• Meskanen, Anne
• Metso, Juha
• Mäkilä, Jarmo
• Mäntymaa, Heikki
• Mätäkuun ryhmä (Arja-Riitta Ihalainen ja Kaarina Valkama)
• Nenonen, Anna Kaarina
• Ollikainen, Tuula
• Olsbo, Timo
• Optimisti, Irma
• Pernu, Jaakko
• Petäjäniemi, Juhani
• Puha, Tero
• Puronen, Riikka
• Pyykkönen, Lotta
• Rummukainen, Petri
• Rönkkö, Jaakko
• Rönkkö, Riitta
• Saarelainen, Marko
• Sampovaara, Mari-Ilona
• Saraste, Markku
• Sarje, Kimmo
• Sarvanne, Minna
• Saukkonen, Teemu
• Schroderus, Kimmo
• Siukonen, Jyrki
• Soininen, Erkki
• Suonpää, Visa
• Susi, Nina
• Syvänoja, Janna
• Thusberg, Panu
• Tiisala, Eev
• Tiittanen, Kirsi
• Toiviainen, Satva-Hanna
• Tompuri, Anne
• Toukomaa, Vesa
• Tuominen, Sinikka
• Uuranmäki, Seppo
• Uusitalo, Kristiina
• Valkama, Kaarina
• Valo, Jaakko
• Valtakari, Jussi
• Vertanen, Annu
• Wikström, Eva
• Vilhunen, Anna-Leena
• Virta, Ulla
• Väntsi, Timo
• Väätti, Ilkka
• Westlin Meri (ent. Merja Miettinen)
• Ylitalo, Merja

The 1995 Mänttä Art Festival was eagerly anticipated. Curator Ilkka Juhani Takalo-Eskola, a visual artist and the newly appointed head of the Academy of Fine arts in Helsinki, extended an open invitation, in turn accepted by 164 artists. This made the exhibition the largest in the Nordic countries. The exhibition's special feature was Mäntylinna, an entire block of flats built for factory workers in the 1950s but since abandoned. Now, all of its flats were filled with art. It was among the most unusual exhibition spaces in the history of Finnish art, leaving an enduring impact with many of the visitors.

Ilkka Juhani Takalo-Eskola's exhibition included many different forms of art. Performance and installation were ingrained in the minds of both Mänttä residents and visitors from elsewhere, and the overall character and various forms of contemporary art began to take shape in the town's collective consciousness.

Featured Artists

• Ahjotuli, Unto
• Ahtila, Eija-Liisa
• Akanvirta-ryhmä
• Aropelto, Yrjö
• Blom-Nieminen, Eila
• Hermunen, Pirjo
• Kansanen, Laura
• Kemppainen, Virpi
• Keskinen, Varpu
• Lassheikki, Päivi
• Pätiälä-Hensel, Irma
• Ruotsalainen, Anitta
• Viljakainen, Kaija
• Alho, Anne
• Alho, Ilppo
• Barman, Pekka
• Beloff, Laura
• Björkenheim, Päivi
• Blick, Esa
• Eklund, Annu
• Eskelinen, Päivi
• Forsblom, Arto
• Forsell, Saara
• Gryta, Radoslaw & Kekki, Timo
• Hakala, Marja
• Hakanen, Hannu
• Hakkarainen, Tuula
• Hanhela, Anssi
• Heino, Timo
• Heinonen, Erkki
• Helander, Marja
• Hömppi, Martt
• Hietaharju, Mikko
• Hiironen, Eero
• Hirvelä, Erkki
• Hirvimäki, Veikko
• Holmberg, Marketta
• Holmström, Gun
• Hukkanen, Reijo
• Hukkataival, Helinä
• Hursti, Armas
• Hyttinen, Niilo
• Ihatsu, Marita
• Innanen, Petra
• Isomäki, Ahti
• Isosaari, Kristiina
• Jaakola, Alpo
• Jakkila, Eeva-Kaisa
• Jokinen, Päivi
• Jokinen, Sirpa
• Jukola, Päivi
• Jula, Jari
• Junttila, Helena
• Jämsä, Arja
• Jämsä, Martti
• Järvinen, Jukka
• Kaikkonen, Pekka
• Kainulainen, Pekka
• Kaiponen, Marko
• Kallinen, Jarmo
• Kalliomäki, Manno
• Kangas, Leena
• Kanto, VirpiKare, Antero
• Karjalainen, Aapo
• Kauhanen, Pekka
• Keitilä, Antti
• Keskinen, Eija
• Kesti, Jouni
• Kiiskinen, Anu
• Kirstinä, Anna
• Ahola, Teija
• Haapaniemi, Sari
• Mäki, Nonna
• Kettunen, Pekka
• Kirves, Outi
• Kivinen, Markku
• Koivisto, Kaisu
• Koskimies, Elina
• Koskinen, Pentti
• Kukkonen, Pertti
• Laitinen, Ulla
• Lampi, Marra
• Lampinen, Tuija
• Lanu, Olavi
• Lanu, Tarja
• Lassheikki, Lasse
• Leinonen, Virpi
• Liikanen, Elina
• Lonka, Sirkka-Liisa
• Luostarinen, Leena
• Lönnroos, Bjarne
• Manninen, Seppo
• Meltaus, Anne-Mari
• Minkkinen, Eila
• Monto, Osmo
• Mustonen, Helvi
• Mykrä, Erkki
• Mäntylä, Leo
• Lappalainen, Arto
• Kuronen, Matti
• Mäntymaa, Heikki & Lukka, Varpu
• Mörö, Reijo
• Nevalainen, Pekka
• Niemelä, Siiri
• Nieminen, Arja-Riitta
• Niininen, Pasi
• Oja, Marjatta
• Osva, Anu
• Ovaska, Anne
• Paavilainen, Kaisu
• Paavilainen, Reijo ja Mäkinen, Pertti
• Paavola, Antero
• Parjanen, Elina
• Paunila, Marjukka
• Pesonen, Eeva
• Pesonen, Liisa
• Pessa, Iiris
• Pirinen, Sirpa
• Pirtola, Erkki
• Raitala, Antti
• Rankka, Lauri
• Rantanen, Leo
• Rantatorikka, Pirkko
• Reiman, Päivi
• Riikonen, Hannu
• Rissanen, Minna ja Viljanen, Jari
• Rogers, Mari
• Roos, Matts
• Rönkkö, Jaakko
• Rönkkö, Riitta
• Salmenjoki, Pertti
• Salokannel, Antti
• Salonen, Heli
• Sappi-Group
• Sarvanne, Minna
• Somma, Ossi
• Ström, Carl-Erik
• Sundvall, Keijo
• Suntio, Heimo
• Sääski, Juha
• Tapiola, Marjatta
• Tapper, Kain
• Terno, Nina
• Tevajärvi, Jamo
• Toikka, Antero
• Toivanen, Jorma
• Tompuri, Anne
• Touru, Tuija
• Tuominen, Anu
• Vaahtopäät-ryhmä:Aarras, Anna-Maija, Kalliomäki, Manno, Könönen, Hilkka,
• Ojaniemi, Kimmo, Sundholm, Ann, Vainonen-Gryta, Maija
• Valkola, Marja-Leena
• Valtakari, Jussi
• Varis, Hanna
• Vehkaniemi, Anneli
• Veijalainen, Tarja
• Vilhunen, Anna-Leena
• Virtanen, Ari
• Väyrynen, Pekka
• Wuorila-Stenberg, Henry

Juha Sääski, a visual artist and then the chairman of the Finnish Painters' Union, curated the very first Mänttä Art Festival in 1993. From the very beginning, the goal was to grow into the most significant event of contemporary art in Finland. Interesting exhibition spaces were secured from various parts of town. They included Honkahovi, the factory manager's official residence, Lampitalo and Peltola, two wooden houses formerly used by the factory and an old mill by Lake Keurusselkä.

Juha Sääski invited 57 artists to the exhibition. This new contemporary art biennale attracted interest from media and audience alike. The whole gamut of contemporary art making was included: performances, paintings, sculptures, video art and photography. The first Mänttä Art Festival created a sound basis for the future.

Featured Artists

• Aiha, Martti
• Arantila, Markku
• Gebhard, Hannu
• Gryta, Radoslaw
• Hakola, Marikki
• Hakuri, Markku
• Heikinheimo, Risto
• Hytönen, Petri
• Isojärvi, Eija
• Isomaa, Eeva-Liisa
• Jaatinen, Olli & Lampinen, Kare
• Jensen, Anita
• Jylhä, Pekka
• Jämsä, Aarne
• Kaikkonen, Kaarina
• Kantonen, Lea ja Pekka
• Karjalainen, Juho
• Kärki, Ipi
• Larjosto, Harri
• Lempinen, Päivi
• Leppänen, Harri
• Lindholm, Hannu
• Lindström, Kari
• Liulia, Marita
• Luukela, Annikki
• Martikainen, Kaari
• Matinlauri, Aaro
• Nyqvist, Thomas
• Ojala, Antti
• Pirtola, Erkki
• Pohjolainen, Pauno
• Pulkka, Anni
• Ratalahti, Antti
• Rehor, Petr
• Savolainen, Alli
• Renvall, Seppo
• Riskula, Helge
• Roos, Nina
• Saarikoski, Juri
• Sariola, Ilkka
• Saukkonen, Teemu
• Sirén, Päivi
• Siukonen, Jyrki
• Stenvall, Kaj
• Suomi, Risto
• Takalo-Eskola, Ilkka Juhani
• Tornberg, Jarkko
• Tuominen, Sinikka
• Vaara, Roi
• Vellonen, Senja
• Vesterinen, Pekka
• Viljanen, Reijo
• Wuorila-Stenberg, Henry
• Väätäinen, Ulla & Karvonen, Liisa